iNtERiORS AND INTERIORS ANd ARCHITECTURE ARChitECtURE
THE MANY FUNCTIONS OF THE FUNCTION ROOM Bergstrom Architects used this strategy at Campsie RSL, where there was an existing auditorium next to the first-floor bistro. We redesigned the auditorium so that it could be divided into smaller rooms, where part of the room could serve to extend the bistro seating area.
SMALL FUNCTION SPACES WITHIN A SPACE
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unctions today can range from casual gatherings of 10 or 15 people through to major corporate events or formal weddings for hundreds of guests. The challenge for venue owners and operators is to work out how to cater for as wide a variety of functions as possible within the spatial limitations of their venue. At Bergstrom Architects, function spaces is one of the many areas that we focus on when developing new venues or renovating existing venues with our clients. We have developed design strategies for everything from formal function rooms, through to areas within larger lounge and dining areas that can serve casual small functions or be part of a general seating area, depending on the need.
THE FUNCTION OF CONFERENCE SPACES Many larger venues actively target the corporate market for meetings, seminars and large events. Having a large room with the ability to divide into smaller areas with operable walls, achieving maximum flexibility, is the first step. There are several other issues to consider as well: when the room is divided, can each smaller area be separately serviced from the kitchen and bar? Is there individual access to each room? Is the acoustic separation adequate for the use? These are all design considerations that we contemplate with our clients.
THE FUNCTION ROOM AS A LOUNGE AREA Many clubs have large separate auditoriums, or function rooms, that are often underused and sitting empty for long stretches of time. One strategy to maximise the use of function rooms is to treat them as hybrid spaces, which can open up and extend your bistro or lounge area on busy trading nights when the space may not be booked for a meeting or event.
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For several years now, it seems that small casual functions have been growing in popularity. This may be as simple as a group of 20 booking a table for dinner, or a 40th birthday party for 50 people. Either way, we find that there is a real opportunity for venues of all sizes to capitalise on this market. Our view is that guests booking these types of casual functions don’t necessarily want separate, isolated rooms. They often like having a space that is separate but still part of a larger lounge, bar or restaurant area, where they can feel a sense of ownership of their designated space, but still enjoy the lively atmosphere of a larger venue. At Bergstrom Architects, our team is constantly looking for new ways to create venues that are vibrant and flexible. Creating high-quality function spaces is only one of the ways we achieve this. C&PM